Data traffic separation method for use in a packet-oriented mobile radio network

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a data traffic separation method for use in a packet-oriented mobile radio network. According to said method, data traffic arising in an access node of the mobile radio network and consisting of a plurality of layer 2 connections comprising a plurality of data flows each is separated with respect to a connection-specific and/or data flow-specific treatment and is optionally guided through a processing unit carrying out such a treatment. The invention further relates to a corresponding mobile radio network in which the inventive method can be applied.

CLAIM FOR PRIORITY

This application is a national stage of International Application No.PCT/DE2004/001153 which was published on Dec. 23, 2004 and which claimsthe benefit of priority to German Application No. 103 26 726.3 filedJun. 10, 2003.

Technical Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a data traffic separation method for use in apacket-oriented mobile radio network.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

For network operators it is important to be able to distinguish betweenthe traffic flows of subscribers, particularly in IP-based networks.Such a separation makes it possible for example for a network operatorto approve for subscribers different authorizations for the quality andservice quality of a data transmission which is referred to as “qualityof service”—abbreviated to QoS— or to bill subscribers in accordancewith different methods.

In the case of the GPRS mobile radio network it has been possible thusfar for a subscriber to select an access point name (APN) which leads todifferent networks or to different handling of the traffic in thenetwork of the corresponding operator. In such cases the access pointname is connected to a so-called PDP (packet data protocol) context,which represents a layer 2 connection.

However, the method described is only used under some conditions by thenetwork operators because it requires relatively high administrationoutlay.

Because of this methods are currently being introduced which, when alayer 2 connection (PDP context) and only one access point name is used,on the basis of the IP packets, which means on a layer 3 basis, allowthe data traffic, meaning the data flows, to be distinguished. In orderto identify data flows and their handling, a so-called “traffic planehandling function” is for example defined in this case. In the widersense this thus involves a processing unit which can implement dataflow-specific handling or functions. This handling can for examplerelate to the billing or to the QoS.

If only one access point name is used, this means that the entiretraffic of a subscriber has to be routed via this processing unit inorder to identify the individual data flows and for further handling ofthese flows such as, for example, billing, even if a part of the datatraffic does not have to be handled in the processing unit. This woulddemand a high computing power for the processing unit, which would bevery costly.

In addition, it is also very often the case that an overall layer 2connection or a PDP context of a subscriber is to be subject to specifichandling such as, for example, specific billing. In this case it is notnecessary at the data flow level to identify each individual data flowof the relevant layer 2 connection because all the data flows of thislayer 2 connection can be treated the same across the board.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a method by means of which it is possibleto separate the data traffic as efficiently as possible and in such away that one part of the data traffic that is to receive specifichandling is routed to a processing unit provided for this purpose.

In accordance with one embodiment, a data traffic separation method foruse in a packet-oriented mobile radio network is provided. In accordancewith the method, data traffic arising in an access node of the mobileradio network and including a plurality of layer connections comprisinga plurality of data flows in each case, is separated with respect toconnection-specific and/or data flow-specific handling and is optionallyrouted proportionately via a processing unit performing such handling.

A GPRS network is preferably used as the mobile radio network. In thiscase, the access node then corresponds to that of a GGSN.

In general, layer 2 connections are terminated in the access node. Ifthe access node decides to forward a layer 2 connection to theprocessing unit, this can be done in the form of the complete layer 2connection, which then has to be terminated in the processing unit orthe layer 2 connection is terminated in the access node and only thatdata contained in the layer 2 connection is forwarded to the processingunit. Within the framework of this invention, the connections involvedare referred to as layer 2 connections in both cases.

In a particularly preferred embodiment of the method in accordance withthe invention, a control function within the access node decides, basedon the application-specific information and/or the local information ofan information unit integrated in an access node, whether or not a layer2 connection should be routed via a processing unit where then, based onthe application-specific information and/or the local information,connection-specific and/or data flow-specific handling is performed ineach case.

Preferably, when a communication to an application is set up by thesubscriber, the application of a policy decision function transmits theapplication-specific information, namely, a so-called policy. Theinformation and rules by means of which a network operator in hisnetwork can influence handling of services are called policies. As aresult, the policy decision function, via an interface authorizes theaccess node of the mobile radio network in order to set up one or morelayer 2 connections comprising a plurality of data flows in each casefor the requested application and transmits the application-specificinformation, which means the policy. A control function within theaccess node decides based on the application-specific information and/orthe local information or policies of an information unit integrated inthe access node whether or not the layer 2 connection or connectionsshould be routed via the processing unit where connection-specificand/or data flow-specific handling is then performed based on theapplication-specific information and/or the local information.

In a particularly preferred embodiment of the method in accordance withthe invention, the policy decision function routes theapplication-specific information with respect to connection-specifichandling of one layer 2 connection or a plurality of layer 2 connectionsto the access nodes and the application-specific information withrespect to a data flow-specific handling of data flows within the onelayer 2 connection or a plurality of layer 2 connections directly to theprocessing unit. This means that the control function within the accessnode on the basis of the application-specific information and/or thelocal information or policies with respect to the connection-specifichandling of one layer 2 connection or a plurality of layer 2 connectionsfirst of all decides whether or not the layer 2 connection or the layer2 connections are to be sent to the processing unit. If the one layer 2connection or a plurality of layer 2 connections is routed to theprocessing unit, then it is possible that, based on theapplication-specific information with respect to a data flow-specifichandling, which was directly routed to the processing unit, anadditional separation with respect to the individual data flows of thelayer 2 connection or the layer 2 connections now takes place there andthe individual data flows are handled differently in accordance with theapplication-specific information. Therefore, in accordance with theinvention, a hierarchical separation of the data traffic consisting of aplurality of layer 2 connections comprising a plurality of data flows isimplemented in each case. First of all, a separation on the basis of theapplication-specific information and/or the local information orpolicies with respect to a connection-specific handling takes place inthe access node; should in accordance with the information, one layer 2connection or a plurality of layer 2 connections of the data traffic besubject to specific handling, it must be possible to route these layer 2connections of the data traffic via the processing unit so that they canbe subject to this handling there. These layer 2 connections of the datatraffic are then routed completely, this means with all their data flowsin each case, via the processing unit. Based on the additionalapplication-specific information, however which now does not relate toconnection-specific handling but data flow-specific handling, anadditional separation is optionally carried out in the processing unit,but this time based on the data flows. In this case, those data flows,which are subject to special handling in accordance with theapplication-specific information with respect to the data flow-specifichandling, are filtered out.

In another preferred embodiment of the method in accordance with theinvention, the policy decision function routes the application-specificinformation with respect to data flow-specific handling of data flowswithin a layer 2 connection indirectly via the access node to theprocessing unit. The access node then identifies from the availabilityof the data flow-specific information that the data of one layer 2connection or a plurality of specific layer 2 connections in which thecorresponding data flows are located has to be routed via the processingunit.

In an especially preferred way, the application of the policy decisionfunction transmits the billing information as the application-specificinformation. On the one hand, this application-specific information canrefer to connection-specific handling but, on the other hand, also todata flow-specific handling. This means for example that an overalllayer 2 connection is not billed or billed at special tariffs or thatspecific data flows of a layer 2 connection are not billed or billed atspecial tariffs. For example, if an overall layer 2 connection is forexample not billed, this layer 2 connection will not be routed via theprocessing unit because additional handling is not needed. Because ofthis pre-separation of the layer 2 connections by the control unit inthe access node, the processing unit is more balanced. In addition tothe application-specific information, which is transmitted from anapplication to the policy decision function, it is possible, as hasalready been mentioned, that the local information or policies are alsologged in the access node according to which the control function in theaccess node has to comply. In general, such local information isconfigured by an operator. For this purpose, so-called networkmanagement methods (operation administration management methods) areused. This local information is static, which means that it applies toall the layer 2 connections in the same way. Dynamic information onlyapplies to a special layer 2 connection or to data flows especiallycontained in a layer 2 connection and preferably arrives at the accessnode via the policy decision function while the layer 2 connection isbeing signaled and authorized. This dynamic information is transmittedfrom an application to the policy decision function.

Preferably the information on the basis of which the control functionfor a layer 2 connection has to decide whether or not to route the layer2 connection via the processing unit is the billing information and/orthe QoS information.

In another particularly preferred embodiment of the method in accordancewith the invention, the policy decision function sends as theapplication-specific information an explicit indicator to the accessnode, which gives the instruction to the control function to route thespecific layer 2 connection or the PDP context via the processing unit.

The control function now decides, in accordance with theapplication-specific information which has reached it via the policydecision function, about the route for the corresponding layer 2connection. However, the control function can also decide about theroute of a layer 2 connection without having received theapplication-specific information from the policy decision function,based only on the local information. In the case of a simultaneousavailability of the local information and the application-specificinformation from the policy decision function, a priority can be set,for example, the application-specific information has a higher prioritythan the said local information. The local information, which is loggedstatically in the access node could, for example, include that specificdestination IP addresses are not billed or that specific QoS classeshave been subject to specific billing, which either makes unnecessary orenforces a forwarding of the corresponding layer 2 connection via theprocessing unit.

In addition, the application-specific information can include thebilling information on the basis of which the control function in theaccess node can decide whether or not it can carry out the billingitself or to route the corresponding layer 2 connection via theprocessing unit.

The billing information or a billing policy can, for example, determinethat no billing, a billing in time, an IP volume billing, an offlinebilling or an online billing has to be carried out in each case.Depending on the type of billing, the corresponding data traffic has tobe either routed via or not routed via the processing unit.

In another preferred embodiment of the method in accordance with theinvention, the application-specific information is routed via anauthentication, authorization and accounting server (AAA server), inparticular via a remote access dial-in user-server (RADIUS) to theaccess node.

In addition, the present invention includes a mobile radio network whichhas at least one access node with a control function for separating datatraffic arising in an access node consisting of a plurality of layer 2connections comprising a plurality of data flows in each case inaccordance with predetermined information and a processing unit for thehandling of layer 2 connections separated by the control unit and routedto the processing unit.

Preferably the mobile radio network in accordance with the inventionadditionally includes a policy decision function for receiving,evaluating and the immediate forwarding of the application-specificinformation to the control function of the access node.

In a particularly preferred embodiment of the mobile radio network inaccordance with the invention, the processing unit includes a filterfunction, which in incoming layer 2 connections can separate data flowsin accordance with the data flow-specific information in such a way thatthese data flows can be subject to a data flow-specific handling in theprocessing unit.

In an additional preferred embodiment of the mobile radio network inaccordance with the invention, the processing unit is integrated intothe access node. The mobile radio network preferably concerns a GPRSnetwork, which corresponds to access nodes, in this case a GGSN.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further advantages of the invention are explained in greater detailbelow with reference to the exemplary embodiments and figures. They areas follows:

FIG. 1 shows an execution sequence of an embodiment of the method inaccordance with the invention.

FIG. 2 shows the sequence of a partial step of another embodiment of themethod in accordance with the invention.

FIG. 3 shows the sequence of a partial step of another embodiment of themethod in accordance with the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 shows schematically a section of a mobile radio network GPRS. Anaccess node (access gateway) is shown which in the mobile radio networkGPRS corresponds to a GGSN. The GGSN terminates layer 2 connections orPDP contexts via an access network, for example via a radio network. Inaddition, a processing unit is shown, which is also called the trafficplane handling function or in short the IP flow handler. This processingunit can carry out data flow-specific functions, this means IPflow-specific functions such as, for example, with respect to a specificbilling or a specific transmission quality (QoS). In this case, theprocessing unit or the IP flow handler is separate from the access nodeor the GGSN. However, it can also be integrated in the access node. Overand above that, a policy decision function also called a policy decisionfunction PDF is shown. In addition, an IP multimedia subsystem, in shortcalled IMS, is shown. It is now possible for an operator to authorize aquality of service for a service requested by a subscriber, this meansan application A, for example, an application of his IP multimediasubsystem IMS and to specify a specific billing method. For that, theapplication A must announce application-specific information orapplication-specific policies of the policy decision function PDF via aninterface 1). To do this, the policy decision function PDF controls orauthorizes the GGSN via an interface 2) on setting up, for example, alayer 2 connection, this means a PDP context. In the GGSN, a controlfunction S is implemented, which can decide on the basis of differentinformation whether or not a layer 2 connection or a PDP context has tobe routed via the IP flow handler. For this decision, bothapplication-specific policies, which arrive at the interface 2) from thepolicy decision function PDF in the GGSN and the local policies of aninternal policy function can be used. Local policies, which are loggedin an internal policy function in the GGSN, are configured by theoperator and are static. This means that these types of policies applyin the same way for all the PDP contexts. Dynamic policies, which arerouted from a specific application via an interface 1) to the policydecision function PDF and are then routed from there via an interface 2)to the GGSN only apply to a specific PDP context. Such policiespreferably arrive during the signaling and authorizing of thecorresponding PDP context via the interface 2) at the GGSN, for example,as a QoS or a billing (charging) policy. Via the interface 2), it is forexample possible, for a specific application, to transmit a billingpolicy, which implies that for the layer 2 connection authorized for theapplication that no billing, time-based billing, IP volume billing,offline billing or online billing has to be carried out in each case.Based on this policy, the control function S decides whether or not itcan perform the billing itself or whether or not the layer 2 connectionhas to be routed via the IP flow handler. In addition, the IP flowhandler includes a filter function, which in incoming layer 2connections can separate data flows in accordance with the dataflow-specific information so that these data flows can be subject todata flow-specific handling in the processing unit.

FIG. 2 shows a section of a mobile radio network. The mobile radionetwork in this figure is again the GPRS mobile radio network. Thediagram shows an access node GGSN, a processing function IP flow handlerand a policy decision function PDF. While the connection-specificinformation, meaning information relating to a complete layer 2connection or a PDP context, arrives from the policy decision functionvia an interface 2) at the GGSN, the data flow-specific information(layer 2 information) is now routed from the policy decision functionPDF directly to the processing unit, meaning that it is routed to the IPflow handler. Data flow-specific handling based on the correspondingdata flow-specific information is firstly carried out in the processingunit, meaning in the IP flow handler rather than in the GGSN. Theincoming connection-specific information is evaluated in the GGSN inorder to determine whether or not, in the GGSN, incoming data trafficconsisting of a plurality of layer 2 connections comprising a pluralityof data flows in each case has to be subject to uniform handling, whichis optionally also carried out by the GGSN and does not have to berouted further from there to the IP flow handler or whether or nothandling, be it connection-specific or a data flow-specific handling,has to be carried out by the IP flow handler and, therefore, thecorresponding layer 2 connections of the data traffic have to be routedto the IP flow handler. This decision is based on theapplication-specific information, which was received from the policydecision function PDF, and/or the local information or the policies. Inthe IP flow handler, data flows are then optionally again separated ifdata flow-specific handling in accordance with the corresponding dataflow-specific information is to be carried out for these.

FIG. 3 shows the same section of a mobile radio network GPRS as in FIG.2. However, in this case data flow-specific information from the policydecision function PDF is not routed directly but indirectly togetherwith the connection-specific information, as shown by the broken line,via the access node, the GGSN and from there to the IP flow handler. TheGGSN identifies on the basis of data flow-specific information that thecorresponding layer 2 connection or the corresponding PDP context inwhich the relevant data flows are located has to be routed via the IPflow handler. In the IP flow handler, the relevant data flows are thenseparated from the other data flows made available in the layer 2connection and subject to specific handling in accordance with the dataflow-specific information.

1. A data traffic separation method for use in a packet-oriented mobile radio network, comprising: separating data traffic arising in an access node of the mobile radio network, the data traffic including a plurality of layer 2 connections comprising a plurality of data flows in each case, with respect to connection-specific and/or data flow-specific handling; and optionally routing the data traffic proportionately via a processing unit performing such handling.
 2. The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein a control function within the access node decides, based on the application-specific information and/or the local information of an information unit integrated in an access node whether a layer 2 connection is to be routed via the processing unit where, based on the application-specific information and/or the local information, connection-specific and/or data flow-specific handling is carried out in each case.
 3. The method in accordance with claim 2, wherein when a communication to an application is set up by a subscriber, the application of a policy decision function transmits the application-specific information and the policy decision function via an interface authorizes the access node of the mobile radio network to set up one layer 2 connection or a plurality of layer 2 connections comprising a plurality of data flows in each case for the requested application and transmits the application-specific information.
 4. The method in accordance with claim 2, wherein the application-specific information is routed via an authentication, authorization and accounting server via a remote access dial-in user-server to the access node.
 5. The method in accordance with claim 2, wherein the application-specific information with respect to connection-specific handling of the layer 2 connection is routed to the access node and the application-specific information with respect to data flow-specific handling of data flows within the layer 2 connection directly to the processing unit.
 6. The method in accordance with claim 2, wherein the application-specific information with respect to data flow-specific handling of data flows within a layer 2 connection is routed indirectly via the access node to the processing unit.
 7. The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the processing unit is integrated into the access node of the mobile radio network.
 8. The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein a GPRS network is used as the mobile radio network.
 9. The method in accordance with claim 2, wherein the billing information is transmitted as the application-specific information.
 10. The method in accordance with claim 2, wherein Quality of Service information is transmitted as the application-specific information.
 11. The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the processing unit, in the case of a layer 2 connection routed thereto, carries out a data flow-specific separation or filtering and handling.
 12. A mobile radio network, comprising: an access node with a control function for separating data traffic arising in an access node including a plurality of layer 2 connections comprising a plurality of data flows in each case in accordance with predetermined information; and a processing unit for handling data flows separated by the control function and layer 2 connections comprising a plurality of data flows in each case forwarded to the processing unit.
 13. The mobile radio network in accordance with claim 12, wherein the mobile radio network has a policy decision function for receiving, evaluating and immediate forwarding of the application-specific information to the control function of the access node.
 14. The mobile radio network in accordance with claim 12 wherein the processing unit comprises a filter function, which in incoming layer 2 connections, can separate data flows in accordance with the data flow-specific information so that these data flows can be subject to data flow-specific handling in the processing unit. 